Dolphins honor our military -- God bless them

The Dolphins will celebrate and salute America's military and its veterans Sunday at their home game against Tampa Bay. And I salute them for that.

The team will have a moment of silence in memory of the Fort Hood soldiers and civilians killed or injured by the treasonous, traitorous, terrorist act of Nadil Malik Hasan. The Dolphins will be collecting donations at all stadium entry gates in memory of the fallen Fort Hood soldiers, with the contributions going to the Fisher House Foundation.

The Foundation provides travel, comfort and lodging to military families at a time of illness or injury.

There will be a pregame flyover of four T-38s from the 50th Flying Training Squadron. There will be a halftime rendition of God Bless America, a performance by the Parris Island Marine Band and a Military Stand To and enlistment ceremony with 300 members of all five branches at the end of the first quarter.

Outside the stadium, there will be a display of military vehicles and banners along with performances from the National Guard Band at the Grand Plaza.

The Veteran's Day celebration, although a few days late of actual Veteran's Day, is something for Dolphins fans to embrace. You root for the guys in Dolphins uniforms all the time.

We all should unfailingly root for the guys in U.S. military uniforms first and foremost. They volunteer to serve, if necessary shedding their blood, so that our American way can endure. God bless them.

Anyway, I got an email from a reader who passed along a poem from U.S. Marine corporal Aaron M. Gilbert, who years ago served aboard the U.S.S. Saipan in the Persion Gulf. The poem was sent by corporal Gilbert to his father. The poem:

We all came together, Both young and old To fight for our freedom, To stand and be bold.

In the midst of all evil,We stand our ground,And we protect our countryFrom all terror around.

Peace and not war,Is what some people say.But I'll give my life,So you can live the American wayI give you the rightTo talk of your peace.To stand in your groups,and protest in our streets.

But still I fight on,I don't fuss, I don't whine.I'm just one of the people Who is doing your time.

I'm harder than nails,Stronger than any machine.I'm the immortal soldier,I'm a U.S. MARINE!

So stand in my shoes,And leave from your home.Fight for the people who hate you,With the protests they've shown.Fight for the stranger,Fight for the young.So they all may have,The greatest freedom you've won

Fight for the sick,Fight for the poorFight for the cripple,Who lives next door.

But when your time comes,Do what I've done.For if you stand up for freedom,You'll stand when the fight's done.